Live the Written Word!

Pursue a degree in English and live what you love. The English department at IUE will afford you the chance to grow as a writer, examine the timelessness of the world's greatest writers, and become a part of a dynamic program.

Master of Arts in English

The English Department is now accepting applications. The deadline for applications is April 15th for fall acceptance of the same year. Master of Arts in English program. For more information about the M.A. in English and application process,
contact Margaret Thomas Evans, English Department chairperson, at (765)
973-8614 or email margevan@iue.edu.

Bachelor of Arts in English Concentrations

Creative Writing: Within the English degree, students can choose to concentrate in Creative Writing, with courses in Fiction, Poetry, and Creative Nonfiction. Students will explore writing in various forms: short stories, novels, poetry, memoir, documentary writing, and more. Creative opportunities include Tributaries, the IUE literary magazine; internships; visiting writers; and field trips.

Literature: A literature concentration allows majors to concentrate their courses in British, American, and world literatures. The concentration is recommended for students intending to pursue graduate work in literature. Students are encouraged to take as many classes as possible in the British literature sequence and the American literature sequence. Through these classes, students will have covered the major authors and periods in both British and American literature. Additionally, students will take world literature for an appreciation of non-English literatures. Beginning with English L202 Literary Interpretation, students will round off their experiences with literary criticism English L371.

Technical and Professional Writing: A concentrated study in the techniques of professional and technical writing including document design, digital writing, technical editing, and technical writing. Create brochures, websites, presentations, reports, blogs, and more. Fine tune your professional writing skills for the world of technical writing, editing, marketing, advertising, publishing, journalism, and many other areas which require excellent writing skills.

Composition Studies: Students in our program gain practical experience in composition theory, research, and pedagogy. In addition to a specialization in composition studies, students will take courses in linguistics, literature, and critical practices, and have the flexibility to take electives like creative non-fiction. Students in our program are prepared for professional positions or going on to graduate work in English or Education.

Noteworthy Courses, Spring '15

Faculty Spotlight

Sarah E. Harris, Writing Program Director and Assistant Professor of English

This is my second year here at IU East, where I direct our writing program and teach courses in composition studies from first-year writing up through our graduate certificate program. I moved here from Tucson, Arizona, where I earned a Ph.D. in Rhetoric, Composition, and the Teaching of English from the University of Arizona. I am still adjusting to real winters, so if you see someone extra bundled up, that’s probably me! Say hello!

In addition to the Ph.D., I earned an MFA in fiction from West Virginia University, so I’m interested in writing of all types, from the creative to the technical. This year in the writing program, we’re creating a new emphasis on composing with technology using multiple modalities, and I can’t wait to see the interesting and creative projects students come up with! I couldn’t do the work I do with the writing program without the help of our amazing faculty and staff, who always inspire me with their innovative teaching and ideas.

My research interests are focused on communities for writing, whether that’s local or academic or online. This past summer I was part of a mentoring presentation at the national Council of Writing Program Administrators conference, helping to advise other new and future program directors. I’ve presented research at numerous national conferences, my creative writing has appeared in the journals SpringGun,Quarter After Eight, and NANO Fiction, and I’ve also been published in College English, in a special issue focused on creative writing studies research.

One of my favorite things about working at IU East has been the chance to get to know the community through partnerships with organizations like Girls Inc. and the Morrisson-Reeves Library. I love writing and talking about writing with members of our community, and I’m really looking forward to the chance to once again plan some workshops in Richmond for this November’s National Novel Writing Month. If you missed these workshops last year, now’s your chance to join us and get started on those ideas you always wanted to write about, and I’ll hope to meet you at one of our workshops on campus or around town.

Student Spotlight

Kathryn Yohey

Kathryn Yohey is a senior double majoring in Secondary Education and English with a minor in Spanish. From a very early age, Kathryn knew she wanted to be a writer. With this in mind, at the age of five she sold her autograph to her grandma’s coworkers because someday her signature would be worth something (Kathryn has no comment on her childhood ego). Her passion for literature has continued to grow due to her interest in seeing the written word as some sort of puzzle or message to be analyzed, interpreted, and absorbed.

While attending IU East, Kathryn has worked as a Supplemental Instruction (SI) Leader for Chemistry N100 and English W131, a Consultant in the Writing Center, and a Teaching Assistant for Chemistry N100 courses. Kathryn is the current secretary of IU East’s Sigma Tau Delta Chapter (International English Honors Society), poetry editor of Tributaries, and a member in the Student Government Association (SGA). Kathryn has studied abroad in Argentina in May 2014 and completed a service learning trip in the Dominican Republic in November 2014. In the summer of 2015, Kathryn will study abroad in Costa Rica and will complete another service learning trip in the Dominican Republic in the fall of 2015. Upon graduation, Kathryn will pursue a career in teaching English abroad.